Acrylic sign buying guide

Every Cartomat acrylic sign is built from the same parts: flat acrylic panes and a stand that holds them. This guide shows the parts, how they join, and the designs we make from them, so you can pick a design or describe your own.

One line describes any sign

S2 [2|1] P4

Read it the way a sign is built. S is the number of slits in the stand. The brackets say what each slit holds. P is the number of panes, stand included.

Mark Meaning Example
S0 No stand: hung, leaned on an easel or fixed to the bar Plaque
[1] One slit holding one pane Classic
[2] One slit holding two panes taped flat together Layered
[2~] The same, with a 2 mm gap so the front pane floats Floating
| The next slit, one row further forward Duo [1|1]
· The next slit, side by side on the same row Pair [1·1]
S1b A small clear block stand, for A5 and smaller Appliqué
Applied pieces Shapes or cut letters glued onto a pane count as panes [3]

The pane

A pane is one piece of acrylic. Six choices describe it, and the stand is a pane too.

Choice What you can pick
Size A5, A4 or A3, or 5×7, 8×10, 8.5×11, 11×14 and 11×17 inches. Companion pieces come in A6 and A7
Thickness Set for you: 3 mm, or 4 mm for signs taller than 330 mm
Acrylic Clear, frosted, opal white, solid colour, transparent colour, mirror, metallic or pearl
Print None, front, reverse or both sides. Print the art behind and the text in front for depth
Outline Rectangle, half arch, full arch, oval, ticket corners, scallop, baroque, organic wave, or cut letters
Inside cut None, a window, a ring or a lattice
Acrylic pane outlines and inside cuts

How panes join

Joint What it does Availability
Slit A pane stands in a cut through the stand Standard
Tape Two panes held flat together Standard
Spacer A 2 mm gap between panes, so the front one floats Standard
Block A pane sits in the groove of a small clear block, A5 and smaller Standard
Partial glue A small piece glued at one point, so it lifts off the surface On request
Hole For a ribbon, tassel or hanging On request
Mount No stand: fixed to a bar front or wall, or set on an easel On request
Light LEDs behind a cut frame On request

The stand

The stand is a pane with slits. Each extra row of slits adds depth, and the stand can take any colour, outline or print, like any other pane.

Stand slit layouts, top view

Designs

Our designs, grouped by how many slits the stand has. The drawings open the layers out so you can see each one.

Acrylic sign designs grouped by stand
Design Code What it is Availability
Plaque S0 [1] P1 One printed pane. Hang it, lean it on an easel or fix it to the bar. On request
Easel plaque S0 [2] P2 Printed both sides with a shaped back layer, for an easel or ribbon. On request
Layered Plaque S0 [3] P3 Three oval layers taped together for depth. On request
Classic S1 [1] P2 One printed sign on a clear stand. Standard
Layered S1 [2] P3 A second pane on the sign lifts the wording forward. Standard
Triple Layer S1 [3] P4 A centre sign inside two shaped rings. On request
Floating 2 S1 [2~] P3 The front card floats 2 mm off a shaped backing. Standard
Floating 3 S1 [3~] P4 Three layers, each floating 2 mm off the one behind. Standard
Appliqué S1b [5] P6 Small shapes glued at one point so they lift off the sign. On request
Stage 2 S2 [1|1] P3 Two full-width panels, one in front of the other. Standard
Theatre S2 [1|1] P3 A front frame with a window over the menu behind. Standard
Theatre with Panel S2 [2|1] P4 A Theatre with an extra layer on the back for depth. Standard
Duo S2 [1|1] P3 A main sign with a small companion in front. Standard
Duo with Panel S2 [2|1] P4 A Duo with an extra layer on the main sign for a 3D effect. Standard
Double Stack S2 [2|2] P5 Two layered signs, one behind the other. On request
Pair S2 [1·1] P3 Two half arches side by side, for his and hers. Standard
Stage 3 S3 [1|1|1] P4 Three rows that step down to the front. Standard
Trio S3 [1|1|1] P4 Two signs side by side and a companion in the centre. On request
Stage 3 with Panel S3 [1|1|2] P5 Stage 3 with an extra layer on the front. On request
Stage 4 S4 [1|1|1|1] P5 Four rows, with rings framing the menu at the back. On request
Skyline Stage 4 S4 [1|1|1|2] P6 A rising shape at the back, two rows, and a piece applied to the front. On request
Grand Theatre S4 [1|1|1·1|1] P6 A small stage: backdrop, curtains, trees and a window frame. On request

Options for each pane

Option Choices
Acrylic Clear, Opal white, Frosted, Colour, Pearl, Gold or silver mirror, Pink mirror, Metallic gold
Colours 23 solid colours from white to black, 7 transparent colours, gold and silver mirror, pink mirror, metallic gold, pearl, frosted and opal white
Outline Rectangle, Half arch, Full arch, Oval or round, Ticket corners, Scallop or wave, Baroque frame, Organic wave, Cut letters
Inside cut Window, Lattice
Print Full colour with white, on the front, on the reverse, or both sides
Stand Clear, colour or mirror acrylic, and it can be printed too

Examples

Signs we have seen, written in the same code, with the design from this guide that comes closest. Anything here can be made to order.

S0, no stand

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Seam, Stem, Study S0 [2] P2 Easel plaque Double-sided print, velvet layer, ribbon tassel.
Lit oversize menu S0 [4] P4 Custom Backing, printed panes, hidden LED ring behind a laser-cut frame.
POUR S0 [4] P4 Custom Tonal base with white front print, frame hiding lights, silver border, and the POUR letters as a single pane. Mounted on the bar.
Concentric marble frames, held in hand S0 [4] P4 Custom Four stacked frame and menu panes, no stand.

S1, one slit

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Terracotta Bar Menu S1 [2] P3 Layered Clear acrylic throughout, with the design and text printed. Ticket corners on both panes.
Brown scalloped menu S1 [1] P2 Classic Classic with a baroque outline on a small clear stand.
The BAR with T&M tag S1 [3] P4 Triple Layer Teal pane, the BAR as a cut-letter pane, T&M partly glued to the sign.
Moscow Mule, His and Hers S1 [2] P3 Layered Stars applied to the sign.
Wedding Bar Sign, round S1 [1] P2 Classic Classic with a round outline.
White floral S1 [2] P3 Layered White floral outline over the menu pane.
French Riviera Romance, teal wave arch S1 [1] P2 Classic Classic with an organic wave outline.
Gelato Bar, red S1 [3] P4 Triple Layer Red pane, scalloped white frame and menu pane in one slit.
White wavy frames with stripes S1 [2] P3 Layered Wavy striped frame over the menu pane.
Signature Drinks, white and blue arch S1 [3] P4 Triple Layer Blue arch, white floral frame and menu pane in one slit.
Elegant Wedding Drinks, white menu S1 [2] P3 Layered Menu pane over a backing pane.
Burgundy arch with vertical raised heading S1 [2] P3 Layered Top pane overhangs the edge.
The Bar, burgundy S1 [1] P2 Classic One burgundy pane with a wavy cut-out on the right side.
Custom arch, white and blue stripes S1 [1] P2 Classic Classic with an arch outline.
From the Bar, palm circle S1 [2] P3 Layered Cut palm applied over the round menu.
Orange menu with blue topper S1 [2] P3 Layered Blue topper badge applied to the orange menu.
Ice Cream, oval with wave frame S1 [2] P3 Layered Blue oval menu with a cut wave frame applied.
Pancake Pals S1 [2] P3 Layered Round menu with a printed pancake character.
Lemonade circle with cup S1 [2] P3 Layered Round menu with a printed cup character.
Candy scallop menu S1 [4] P5 Custom Wavy frame, pink menu and two applied candies.
Mom-osa Bar S1 [2~] P3 Floating 2 Clear oval menu held off the yellow scallop with gold standoffs.
Sno'd Favorites S1 [2] P3 Layered Black lattice frame over the white menu.
Touchdown Bar S1 [4] P5 Custom Field pane with Game Five, helmet and football pieces applied.
Lit with bulbs S1 [1] P2 Classic Classic with LED lights on the back.

S1b, clear block

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Retro peach sign with white slatted pane S1b [3] P4 Custom Lattice at the back, peach pane with text, clear star pane in front, all in the clear block.
The bar and signature cocktail, pink and red S1b [1] P2, two signs Custom Two separate wavy panes, each in a clear block.
Yellow wave with butterflies S1b [5] P6 Appliqué Yellow wavy backing, white wavy top pane, three printed butterflies glued at the body so the wings lift and overhang.

Custom groove, made to order

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Tiger scene, front S1g [4] P5 Custom Four panes in a groove engraved in a pink base, standing in front of the back scene.
Tiger scene, back S1g [3] P4 Custom Bar menu frame on its own groove stand, three panes.
Enseigne de bar, cane and wave S2g [3|3] P7 Custom Two stacks of three on a grooved base.
The Bar, clear arch with drinks S1g [1] P2 Custom Clear arch with the drinks and text printed, in a grooved stand.
Espresso Martini, edge-lit cowgirl S1g [2] P3 Custom Two panes in a grooved stand, lit from the edge.

S2, two slits

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Gelato Cart S2 [2|1] P4 Duo with Panel Pearl carrier, velvet-look top pane, companion in front.
Oval bar menu S2 [2|1] P4 Duo with Panel Oval pearl carrier with a floral print, green pane added on with white text, baroque companion in front.
Amalfi S2 [2~|1] P4 Duo with Panel Printed carrier, Signature Drinks pane floating on it, boats as the companion, printed stand.
Blue tile and gold DRINKS S2 [2|1] P4 Duo with Panel DRINKS cut from gold mirror and applied to the white base, oval menu in the front slit.
COCKTAILS semicircles S2 [1|1] P3 Duo Two transparent colour panes.
THE BAR floral with oval S2 [2|2] P5 Double Stack Acrylic-cut THE BAR partly glued to the floral carrier, oval floating on the menu.
The Bar ribbon with diamond tile S2 [1|1] P4 Custom Menu and diamond tile in two slits, wavy ribbon stand with the Bar applied.
Purple arch with window and disco ball S2 [1|1] P3 Theatre Theatre with a hanging ornament.
White lattice frame and companion S2 [2|2] P5 Double Stack Lattice pane over the printed carrier at the back; the companion in front has its own white frame.
Orange and pink arches S2 [1|1] P3 or S2 [5|1] P7 Duo Flowers printed, or each flower colour cut from its own coloured acrylic.
Hibiscus, Signature Drinks S2 [2|2] P5 Double Stack Yellow carrier with the hibiscus pane applied, menu stack in front.
Double-layer scalloped pair S2 [2·2] P5 Double Stack Two stacks side by side on one stand.
Scalloped pair, burgundy The Drinks S2 [2|2] P5 Double Stack Burgundy menu stack behind, scalloped silver mirror Cocktails stack in front.
Corporate duo S2 [1|1] P3 Duo Main sign and companion.
The Bar, leather print with oval card S2 [1|1] P3 Duo Printed menu with a clear oval companion in front.
Purple and red S2 [2|2] P5 Double Stack Two stacks of two.

S3, three slits

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Black disc, wavy menu, bottle cut-out S3 [1|1|1] P4 Stage 3 Lattice disc, wavy menu and bottle, one pane per slit.
Beige floral stand with oval S3 [1|1|1] P4 Stage 3 Beige stand with three slits, one pane in each.
The Bar S3 [1|2|2] P6 Trio One pane, then two stacks of two.

S4 and more

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Libations S4 [1|1|1|1] P5 Stage 4 Panes one behind another, each in its own slit.
Mermaid bar with coral rows S4 [1|2|1|2] P7 Stage 4 Four rows of coral, shell and sign panes, two of them stacked.
Blue botanical with signature cocktails S6 [1|1|1|1|1|1] P7 Custom Six single panes, each in its own slit.
Paper theatre S4 [1|1|1·1|1] P6 Grand Theatre Full back, curtains with a window, two small trees, ornate window frame in front.

Many panes, made to order

Example Code Closest design How it is built
Sea waves Many panes Custom Layered wave panes with a menu.
Basketball party sign Many panes Custom Many applied pieces.
Eiffel tower, lava lamp, ginger jar Many panes Custom Silhouette outlines.